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What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

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Re: What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

#111

Post by georgeecollins »

mwexler wrote: post #82

Having worked at MSN during this time, I can tell you, the jealousy of AOL and the client-based walled garden they built was almost physically palpable. AOL was the onramp to the internet for so many folks, but many felt they didn't need to leave the garden. MSN was kind of a halfway spot: a bit more open, but also more integrated into Windows (standard embrace and extend approach). Yahoo! was the other big worry: al…

When I started out at Activision there was a guy doing research so that we would be ready for when Microsoft Network rolled out. It did seem like a cooler version of AOL to us that had like APIs. But no one thought it was going to make it.

Re: What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

#112

Post by justinlloyd »

georgeecollins wrote: post #111
mwexler wrote: post #82

Having worked at MSN during this time, I can tell you, the jealousy of AOL and the client-based walled garden they built was almost physically palpable. AOL was the onramp to the internet for so many folks, but many felt they didn't need to leave the garden. MSN was kind of a halfway spot: a bit more open, but also more integrated into Windows (standard embrace and extend approach). Yahoo! was the other big worry: al…

When I started out at Activision there was a guy doing research so that we would be ready for when Microsoft Network rolled out. It did seem like a cooler version of AOL to us that had like APIs. But no one thought it was going to make it.

We were at ATVI together, then our paths crossed again at 7Studios, and if you haven't moved recently, you live about 4 miles from me. Small world.

Re: What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

#113

Post by justinlloyd »

cecilpl2 wrote: post #105
mikestew wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One nitpick: Microsoft Money was around since the early '90s, long before MSN showed up. I also miss it very much.

Microsoft Money Sunset Edition still works. I can still download all my credit card statements in OFX (MS Money format). I use it weekly and have nearly 20 years of transaction history stored there. I have no idea what I'll do if it ever stops working. The killer feature I would switch instantly for is a way to automatically set part ownership of a joint account. I want to download credit card transactions and mark t…

Still using MSMoney Sunset Edition. My records only go back to 2003 (19 years). I like having my financial information directly on my computer, under my control, and not being mined by random start-ups that get acquired.

Re: What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

#114

Post by 2000UltraDeluxe »

dcist wrote: post #99
2000UltraDeluxe wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Briefcase was a godsend back when removable storage was used to move files between computers and there was no other way to keep things synced. It's a shame they removed it.

Never used Briefcase. I just remember being confused by it as a kid. I did, however, use Iomega Zip Drives to move large (at the time) files.

The briefcase was for situations where you'd have local copies of many smaller files, and wanted to keep the files up-to-date between multiple computers. Back in '95 it wasn't uncommon for multiple employees, pupils or family members to share a small number of computers. Many homes had none. Working straight against the floppy was too slow, but syncing everything with the briefcase once you were done would speed up the workflow.

Re: What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

#115

Post by xtracto »

h0l0cube wrote: post #78

> At least now I can happily use fopen to read data from a website, right? And backup my email just by dragging folders from Gmail to a local disk. Right guys? It would be nice to rsync to send/retrieve emails and manage my inbox. Maybe the original MSN concept needs to be revisited?

you mean like IMAP?

Re: What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

#116

Post by mavhc »

kmeisthax wrote: post #86
mavhc wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, now with touch screens it's even more hidden

Long pressing[0] is the touchscreen equivalent of a right click. [0] Or, on very specific old iPhone models, force pressing

Can't say I've ever seen a non techy person do that

Re: What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

#117

Post by h0l0cube »

xtracto wrote: post #115
h0l0cube wrote: post #78

> At least now I can happily use fopen to read data from a website, right? And backup my email just by dragging folders from Gmail to a local disk. Right guys? It would be nice to rsync to send/retrieve emails and manage my inbox. Maybe the original MSN concept needs to be revisited?

you mean like IMAP?

Yep, but it's another thing to install, and it's another thing to configure, right? If I had a json file that was my email configuration, and could use the `rsync` tool that comes with my *nix distribution, that would be a whole lot simpler.

Re: What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

#118

Post by ungamedplayer »

irusensei wrote: post #39
ungamedplayer wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What was dead ? Comic Chat still worked in xp last time I tried.

I remember using it on Windows 98 SE. It looked fun but it didn't take me a lot to figure out the thing was filled to the brim with crackers (it wasn't very secure) and creepy people posting weird custom cartoon porn. I've quickly noped the hell out of it.

I think that comes down to which IRC servers you were joining.

Re: What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

#119

Post by NonNefarious »

selcuka wrote: post #12
NonNefarious wrote: post #11

"The raw, unfiltered mess of the Internet was quickly becoming the New Cool Thing, and no-one wanted to sign up for yet another Stupid Proprietary Thing" Which is exactly what Microsoft is pushing today with their idiotic "Microsoft account," making it increasingly impossible to use Windows or their other products without signing on to this bullshit. They clearly didn't learn the first time around. Nobody wants anoth…

Playing devil's advocate here: For all practical purposes you need an account for macOS, iOS, and Android. What is so different with Windows?

Not really. I set all of my Macs up with a local administrator ID, and Apple does not make that a giant pain in the ass or underhandedly switch it to an online log-in during OS installation the way Microsoft does.

iOS is a bit more tied to an online account, but still not as offensive as Microsoft's execrable hounding and hobbling in Windows.

Re: What the Hell Was the Microsoft Network? (2018)

#120

Post by NonNefarious »

simonh wrote: post #43
andai wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you can't install anything on iOS without logging in, and the app store is the only way to get software (without rooting). I guess you could use the built in apps though, and the camera...

The iCloud service is separate from the App Store service, and you can be logged into one but not the other, however you log in to both using the same AppleID. You can actually be logged into iCloud using one AppleID and the App Store with a different one, at least a family member had their phone set up that way for a while, for reasons. If you set up a Mac without an AppleID you'll constantly get nagged every time a…

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